Floating breakwater



Feb. 23, 1932. R. R. ROANE 1,846,278

FLOATING BREAKWATER Filed April 15, 1929 s Sheets-Sheet 1 PIT-1 v 3 aFeb. 23, 1932. RQANE 1,846,278

FLOATING BREAKWATER Filed.April 15, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lmmun hwmn' iFeb. 23, 1932. R. R. ROANE FLOATING BREAKWATER 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledApril 15, 1929 M llll 1 I 1 ti, 3

I I gwoanto'a 2 I ill Patented Feb. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEROBERT ROYAL ROANE, OI BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WALSH-BUGBEE(10., INQ, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY FLOATINGBREAKWATER Application filed April 15,

This invention relates to floating breakwaters, and has for an objectthe production of a device of this type which will prove effective inthe protection of harbors, bathing beaches, yacht basins, anchorages,etc. from open water, chop and Wave movement, in order that a safeharbor for small crafts, water sports and the like will result.

It is an object of this invention to produce a sectional breakwater socoupled or connected together that each will have independent movementfor riding the waves and moving under impact thereof, provision beingalso made for the utilization of the device in tide water so that itwill rise and fall with the tide and swing under the varying loads,although being flexible, the sections will adjust themselves to theseconditions with each impact. 1

It has been found in practice that a device of this kind will break theWave action, even though there is heavy wind velocity and it willprevent surf on the beach behind the breakwater.

It is a further object of this invention to produce a sectionalbreakwater which will extend downwardly in the Water, or, as otherwiseexpressed, sits very low therein, and offers very little wind resistanceand through which the surge preceding the Wind is broken against steelcylinders and other structures.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists inthe details of construction, and in the arrangement and combination ofparts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings forming part of this application Wherein likecharacters denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in whichFigure 1 illustrates a plan view of a breakwater section and a fragmentof another section connected thereto;

Figure 2 illustrates a view in side elevation of one of the sections;

Figure 3 illustrates a view in end elevation thereof;

Figure 4 illustrates a sectional view of a 1929. Serial No. 355,315.

fragment of a. section and the coupling elements;

Figure 5 illustrates a water;

Figure 6' illustrates a view in elevation of an anchor with a breakwatersection secured thereto;

Figure 7 illustrates a plan view of the posts of the anchor;

Figure 8 illustrates an enlarged view in elevation of the upper end ofthe anchor'with the cap thereof in section; and

Figure 9 illustrates an enlarged detail view, partly in section, of thespring couplings connecting the ends of adjacent frames at the sidesthereof.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the anchors or'dolphins,generally identified by the numerals 10 and 11, are proplan view of abreakvided at the endsof the breakwater, and,

preferably, each of said anchors comprises a plurality of piles 12 ofsuch length and size as to prove effective in holding a breakwater of agiven size. They should, of course, be driven to a reasonablepenetration on appropriate centers, according to the requirements, andthe piles are then pulled in at the tops and lashed by fastenings 13,such as galvanized Wire ropes, and appropriately secured in positions. Asuitable cap 14, preferably of copper, may be applied to the top of eachanchor or dolphin and this may constitute a support for the usual signallamps, generally identified by the numeral'lo.

In order to provide for the rise and fall of the breakwater, eachdolphin has a vertically disposed pulley engaging member 16 which mayconsistof a wire rope of proper strength which is anchored to thedolphin and engaged by a pulley 17 of a coupling 18. The coupling mayride on the element 16 as the breakwater rises and falls, and the saidcoupling is connected to one end of the breakwater by a suitablecable orother fastening 19.

The sections of the breakwater are generally identified by the lettersA, B, C, D, E, F and G in the present embodiment, although the number ofsections may be increased or diminished, according to the length of theprotection desired. Since each section is of identical construction, adescription of one section will suffice as a disclosure for anunderstanding of the invention by one skilled in the art.

In the production of a section, twoparallel air cylinders' and 21 areheld in spaced relation to each other horizontally by a rugged frameworkconsisting of transversely disposed top-bars 22 and longitudinallyextending channel or other irons 23 and 24; on each side, one above theother, and preferably held by bracing elements'25. The iron 24 on eachside of. the section. constitutes an anchorage or support for crossirons 25? and the. cylinders-20. and .21 areulodged or anchored in thespace encompassed by'the bars 22 and the irons 23,24, 25 and 25,, and

onthe bottomof the structure just described and. it extends well downbelow the water level. It comprises a plurality. of ribs, such as 26,anchored to the elements 25 and these converge at their lower ends andare connected by a longitudinally extending iron 27. This structure alsoincludes suitable diagonals and struts for proper. strength anddurability. The drawings show a plurality of connecting andstrengthening plates of different shapes, such as 28, and these will beemployed where desirable. The inventor does not wish to be limited withrespect to the details of these features nor the locations of theiremployment.

Each end of each ture and these coupling heads are intended to beassociated with a link fitting in cavities, such as, 31, of the head.The cavity is flared outwardly to provide vertical play of the linktherein in order that a section may rise or descend with relation toanother section without lateral strain on the link and preferably acushion 32 is interposed between the coupler heads. Brackets or lugs 33with apertures therein are secured to the sides of the sections near theends and these constitute abutments for springs 34, through which springbolts project, the said bolts also extending through an aperture of theelement 33. The bolt of one section is secured to the bolt of theadjacent section by means of a chain 35 so that a yielding connectionwill be provided between the sections at their edges. In the'presentembodiment of the invention, M. G. B. springsand spring section has acoupler head 29 appropriately. secured'to the struc-' 4'. A floatingbolts are employed connected by heavy BBB chains.

Buflers are provided on the ends of the cylinders and, as here shown,consist of inserts 36 of wood or some such shock absorbing material, andpreferably their faces are tapered outwardly so that the face of onebuffer will contact the face of the contiguous buffer when the sectionsare at angles to eachother.

I claim:

1. A floating breakwater including a series of floating frames arrangedend to end, opposed coupling members at the transverse centers ofadjacent frame ends connecting said: frames to prevent; longitudinal:movement. ofone with respect to another and to :permit. lateralswingingflmovement of one frame with respect to.v the adj acent;frame,and spring couplings connecting. the ends of adjacent frames at thesides. thereof yieldably holding adjacent frames with theirlongitudinaL-center lines in desired angular relat1on;. V

a '2. A- floating breakwater including. a series-of floating framesarranged end tov end, opposedcouplingmembers at the transverse centersvof. adjacent frame ends connecting said frames to prevent longitudinal.movementof one: with respect to another and to permit lateral-swingingmovement: of: one

framewith respect to. the adjacent: frame,

spring couplings connecting the endssof adjacent frames at the sidesthereof .yieldably holding adjacent frames. withftheir:longitudinalcentenlines in desired angular relation, and 'meansto adjustthetensions ofthe spring. couplings between adjacent frames whereby toestablish desired normal angular relationibetween said frames.

3. A. floating breakwater including: se-

ries of. floating frames. arranged end to end,

opposedcoupling members at the transverse centers: ofadjacent. frameends connecting said frames to prevent longitudinal move- -ment of-onewith respect toanother and to permit. lateral swinging. movement of oneframe..;with,resp.ect to the .adjacentframe, spring couplings connectingthe. ends of adacent frames at the sides-thereof yieldably holdingadjacent frames with their longitudinal center lines inrdesired angularrelation, a pair of hollow cylindrical floats extending longitudinallythrough each frame adjacentv the sides thereof, and bumperson the endsof said floats serving to absorb shocks of impact. I

breakwater including a series of floating'frames arranged endto end,

opposed coupling members at the transverse centers-of adjacent frameends connecting said frames to prevent longitudinal movement ofone withrespect to another-and to permit lateral swinging movement of-orne framewith respect to the adjacent-frame,

spring couplings connecting the ends of adjacent frames at the sidesthereof yieldabl holding adjacent frames with their longtudinal centerlines in desired angular relation, means to adjust the tensions of thespring couplin s between adjacent frames whereby to est lish desirednormal angular relation between said frames, a pair of hollowcylindrical floats, extending longitudinally through each frame adjacentthe sides thereof, and bumpers on the ends of said floats serving toabsorb shocks of impact.

ROBERT ROYAL ROANE.

